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DALLAS, Jan 18, 2006 -- U.S. Newswire
A new study published in the British journal Nature suggests that the biggest ozone offender may literally be in our own backyard -- trees. National Center For Policy Analysis (NCPA) Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett states that the study proves the ineffectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol. The study suggests that while trees do soak up carbon dioxide, they also release methane, another ozone-depleting gas. Like carbon dioxide, methane traps heat, causing a rise in temperatures. According to the study, plants emit approximately 10 to 30 percent of the total amount of methane released into the atmosphere per year. This amounts to tens of millions of tons per year. "If this study proves to be correct, it reinforces what I've argued all along, we can't trust the climate models and at best, we have woefully incomplete science," said Dr. Burnett. "Accordingly, Kyoto's prescriptions for response are fatally flawed as it is based on these two shaky pillars." The Bush Administration has been severely criticized for not signing the treaty even though economic forecasts show that compliance would hurt the U.S. economy. An NCPA study written by Dr. Stephen Brown of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank determined that compliance would reduce GDP by as much as 4.3 percent in 2010, representing a loss of up to $394.4 billion, or $1,320 per person. The so-called AP6 nations -- Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, India and the U.S. -- met last week in Sydney for two days of discussions about how to go "beyond Kyoto" and forge a technical strategy for living with rising temperatures. The talks produced a combined $127 million commitment by the United States and Australia to market renewable energy sources and cleaner ways to use coal. Dr. Burnett says this technological approach is crucial and unlike the European approach, promises much better results. "Rather than spending time and resources slowing the increase in greenhouse gases, which may not be the cause of global warming, we should prepare for a warmer world and all its effects, regardless of the cause," Dr. Burnett added. --- The NCPA is an internationally known nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute with offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C. that advocates private solutions to public policy problems. The NCPA depends on the contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations that share their mission. The NCPA accepts no government grants. News Provided By |
